How can I figure out what the original owner had installed - V1/Laser??
01-14-2012, 01:14 PM
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How can I figure out what the original owner had installed - V1/Laser??
I purchased my one-owner GTS from a Merc dealer a couple of months ago and it has quite an elaborate wiring setup that appears to have been for a combination V1 and laser protection. It has pick-ups in the front grill (can't find any in the back though), a V1 (looks like a phone plug) connector hanging down above the mirror, a switch mounted to the steering column that looks and operates exactly like the main pwr/volume/mute switch on a V1, and all kinds of wiring very neatly tucked in behind the fuse panel in the side of the dash (driver's side). When I plug my V1 into the connector above the mirror it does power up and it seems to work, but I'm getting no display. This tells me that the previous owner probably had some sort of a remote display wired into this as well, but I can't find a connector for that.
What I'd love to do is just contact the previous owner and ask him/her for the details on what this system is as I'd probably like to get the rest of the hardware to make use of the very nice installation. That would certainly be the easiest way to find out what this was. That said, I completely understand that even if I could manage to get this person's contact information he/she may be a bit upset about me getting the information in the first place. If I were on the other end of this situation and someone contacted me out of the blue it wouldn't bother me at all and in fact I'd be happy to help out and would probably even want to know how my car was doing. However, I can certainly appreciate that not everyone would react this way.
I figured that my local Porsche service adviser could probably look up the service history and just look at the name. I also know what dealership it was originally purchased from so I'm assuming they would have a record as well. I spoke with both of them and, understandably, neither will give me the information. I've even asked the original dealer to give the previous owner a call and ask if they minded me contacting them, but they wouldn't even do that.
I can probably bring the car to a good installer and maybe they can figure it out, but I'd really like to know definitively what was there. Any other ideas?
What I'd love to do is just contact the previous owner and ask him/her for the details on what this system is as I'd probably like to get the rest of the hardware to make use of the very nice installation. That would certainly be the easiest way to find out what this was. That said, I completely understand that even if I could manage to get this person's contact information he/she may be a bit upset about me getting the information in the first place. If I were on the other end of this situation and someone contacted me out of the blue it wouldn't bother me at all and in fact I'd be happy to help out and would probably even want to know how my car was doing. However, I can certainly appreciate that not everyone would react this way.
I figured that my local Porsche service adviser could probably look up the service history and just look at the name. I also know what dealership it was originally purchased from so I'm assuming they would have a record as well. I spoke with both of them and, understandably, neither will give me the information. I've even asked the original dealer to give the previous owner a call and ask if they minded me contacting them, but they wouldn't even do that.
I can probably bring the car to a good installer and maybe they can figure it out, but I'd really like to know definitively what was there. Any other ideas?
01-14-2012, 01:32 PM
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It sounds as though there is a Valentine remote adapter hardwired somewhere in there, as it will automatically shut off the main display IIRC.
(FWIW, Mike Valentine is a RL member).
What you could do is call around to some local car electronics shops and ask them if they have worked on a P!g with these items ...
(FWIW, Mike Valentine is a RL member).
What you could do is call around to some local car electronics shops and ask them if they have worked on a P!g with these items ...
01-15-2012, 10:24 AM
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Thanks Lewis...
That's what I was thinking too - I'm guessing it had some sort of a remote display for the V1 mounted somewhere but I see no evidence of that (aside from my V1 not showing its display) and I'm also guessing it also had a laser system given the sensors in the front grille. Good to know that Mike's a member here as well. All that said, I think I'm going to go with your suggestion and see if I can find a good shop to figure it out although I'd prefer to have someone just tell me (like the previous owner) so I wouldn't have to pay for it. Hopefully they'll be able to figure it out quickly. Thanks again...
That's what I was thinking too - I'm guessing it had some sort of a remote display for the V1 mounted somewhere but I see no evidence of that (aside from my V1 not showing its display) and I'm also guessing it also had a laser system given the sensors in the front grille. Good to know that Mike's a member here as well. All that said, I think I'm going to go with your suggestion and see if I can find a good shop to figure it out although I'd prefer to have someone just tell me (like the previous owner) so I wouldn't have to pay for it. Hopefully they'll be able to figure it out quickly. Thanks again...
01-15-2012, 02:09 PM
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I've seen several hidden Valentine remote display's that really are not at all obvious until the Valentine turns on. On BMWs - they've been known to be buried in the instrument cluster, and in modified rear-view mirrors... You might plug your V1 in and go looking for a friendly local radar blasting LEO.. then see what lights up.
01-15-2012, 10:14 PM
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Or....you can throw out your V1 and get a real radar detector from Escort's new line-up of products.
Seriously Jay, I would have never plugged in a unit into a live field-installed/spliced harness unless I knew exactly how it was originally wired and powered. With so many different variations and customized installs, you're lucky you didn't blow the unit. On a previous ride of mine, the unit was completely dissected as the antenna horn was installed in the headrest, the power switch & volume control at the lower back of the console and the LED's within the instrument cluster; all using a modified section of the original OEM remote wiring harness.
If this was a dealer-install for the P.O., the chances are slim that they'll give you the installer's name. Then again, you can always try walking into the sales department one day and ask one of their salesmen who they use for their installs. Sales people love to chat and I'm sure the info will leak out somehow.
Good luck just the same!
Seriously Jay, I would have never plugged in a unit into a live field-installed/spliced harness unless I knew exactly how it was originally wired and powered. With so many different variations and customized installs, you're lucky you didn't blow the unit. On a previous ride of mine, the unit was completely dissected as the antenna horn was installed in the headrest, the power switch & volume control at the lower back of the console and the LED's within the instrument cluster; all using a modified section of the original OEM remote wiring harness.
If this was a dealer-install for the P.O., the chances are slim that they'll give you the installer's name. Then again, you can always try walking into the sales department one day and ask one of their salesmen who they use for their installs. Sales people love to chat and I'm sure the info will leak out somehow.
Good luck just the same!
